Ball point fountain pen



Patented Jan. 22, 1952 Herman C. Frentzel, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to The Parker Pen Company, Janesville, Wis., a.- corporation of Wisconsin Application November 15, 1945, Serial No. 628,768-

11 Claims.

This invention relates generally to fountain pens of the type having a ball writing point, and it has to do particularly with project-retract mechanism by which the ball writing point is alternately projected from and retracted into the pen barrel or casing.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide. improved project-retract mechanism for easily and quickly projecting the ball writing point from within the pen barrel to an outward writing position when the. pen is to be used. and for retractingit into the barrelv when it' is not in use and before returning it to ones pocket.

- In. the use ofpens of the foregoing character, the ball point rolls in contact with the writing surface to apply ink thereto and there is always a small amount of ink on the exterior surface of the ball point which, if not guarded against, would tend to soil the users clothing when returning. the pen to his. pocket.

Most users of ball-point writing instruments are likely to be mindful of the importance of. retracting the writing point before pocketing, but there are some, who are prone to be forgetful, and it is another object of this invention to provide means which will effectively discourage such. forgetfulness and tend to insure retraction of the. ball point before pocketing the pen.

The present invention is characterized in that the pocket clip with which the instrument is equipped is movable automatically, in co-incidencewith projection and retraction of the writing point, to alternate positions, in one of which it is usable as a pocket clip and in the other of which it is unavailable for that purpose-the arrangement being such that the pocket clip can be used only when the writing pointof the instrument is retracted.

Since it is natural when returning a relatively expensive writing instrument to ones pocket to make an effort to secure the same, the fact of being unable to utilize the pocket clip serves as a cogent reminder that the writing point has not been retracted and is thus eifective quickly to cope with the aforementioned forgetfulness and to form the desired habit.

A further object of this invention is to provide a project-retract mechanism of simple and rugged design wherein propulsion of the writing point is effected by depressing a pushbutton at the rear end of the instrument and retraction is effected by depressing a release button on the side of the instrument.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent as the detailed description progresses;

(Cl. Mil-42.03)

In. the drawing. which accompanies this speci fication:

Fig. l is a. view, partly in elevation and partly in. longitudinal section, of av ball-point writing instrument according to a preferredembodiment of. the inventiontheballpoint being retracted and the pocket clip positioned for use;.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same instrument showing, the ball point in writing position and the. pocket clip retracted. into the barrel. and therefore unusable;

Fig. 3. is a. view taken from the left side .of Fig. 2. of. the rear half of the instrumentthe barrel being: shown in section in order better to. reveal certainv internal details;

Fig.v 4 .is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Theassembly illustrated'includes a barrel I, having a tubular portion 2 to the front end of which is detachably connected a tapered tip member 3.

A ball-andecartridge unit 4 is disposed within the barrel. It comprises a tubular ink cartridge or reservoir 5, an ink feed tube 6 and a ball writing point 1. The cartridge contains a viscous paste-like ink which is fed through tube 6 to the back surface. of. ball point 1. A metal ball 8 disposed within the. cartridge 4 aids in the feed of the ink. by exerting a slight pressure thereon. A plug -9 containing an orifice; l0 of capillary dimension is pressed into the back end of the cartridge anduserves as a. medium for admitting air to the cartridge without. permitting leakage; of ink therefrom. That is, the orifice i0 is large enough to admit air to the reservoir to insure the proper feedv .of ink therefrom but small enough. to tend. to prevent leakage of ink which may 'by-pass ball. 8. Leakage is further guarded against. by theseal aiforded: by ball 8. The balland-cartridge unit 4 is. yieldably movable length"- wise of the barrel and a retracting spring ll constantlypurges it rearwardly toward a position wherein ball: point I is retracted into. the barrel as depicted: in Fig. l. The balland-cartridgeunit 4 can easily be removed for replacement by detaching tip; member 3 from tubular portion 2. When theyinstrument is not in use, the ball point should: be retracted into the barrel as illustrated. in Fig. 1. so that whenplaced in ones pocket, the small amount of ink on the exterior surface of' ball 1 cannot soil the clothing.

Forward projection of the ball-and-ca'rtii'dge unit 4 whereby to project the ball point 1 from the interior of the barrel to its writing position, as exhibited in Fig. 2, is accomplished by means of a plunger 12 the front end of which engages the rear end of plug 9 and the back end of which projects rearwardly from the barrel to form a manually operable pushbutton l2a. By depressing pushbutton l2a, the ball-and-cartridge unit 4 is projected forwardly against the opposition of spring ll.

Plunger l2 has a, diametrical lengthwise slot 13 which terminates at l4. It is also threaded externally at l5 to receive a threaded sleeve IS. A spacer I! held in place by sleeve I6 is inserted in slot [3.

A latch bar i8 extending transversely of the barrel is disposed in the slot [3. This bar l8 has a portion I8a in registration with a lengthwise-extending slot-like opening l9 in the barrel and another portion 18b in registration with another lengthwise-extending slot-like opening 20 in the opposite side of the barrel. Attached to portion I8a and forming an integral part of latch bar I8 is a spring arm 2| anchored at 22 and having a free end 23. Spring arm 2| is intended to function as a pocket clip in the conventional manner when in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1.

Latch bar [8 is provided with two angularly extending cam grooves 24 and 25 which are engaged respectively by pins 26 and 21. These pins are carried by the plunger and extend across slot l3, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4. The forward extremity of cam groove 24 is formed to provide a lateral pocket 24a for receiving and retaining pin 26, the arrangement being such that a shoulder 28 disposed at right angles to the movement of plunger I2 is formed and against which the pin 26 is adapted to seat. It thus operates as a stop to hold the plunger in its forward position as depicted in Fig. 2.

A specially formed wire spring 29 is anchored at one end in pushbutton l2a and is coiled at 290. and bent at its free end 2% to form a curved portion for engaging the inner surface We, of portion l8b of the latch bar l8. Portion l8b of latch bar l8 functions as a release button as hereinafter described.

Depression of pushbutton [20. causes plunger [2 to move forwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The incidental forward movement of pins 26 and 21 cams latch bar l8 transversely from the position of Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 2.

As the plunger is moving forwardly, carrying with it spring 29, the latch bar is at the same time moving transversely to a position wherein surface I80 can be engaged by the free end portion 29b of said spring 29. This spring exerts enough pressure on the latch bar to cause it to move to the extreme position indicated in Fig. 2 where pin 26 is held seated in pocket 24a against shoulder 28. This structure serves to retain the latch bar in the extreme position of Fig. ,2 against the pressure of spring ll until such time as release button I811 is manually depressed for the purpose of retracting the writing point.

It will be observed that when latch bar 18 is in that one of its two extreme positions depicted in Fig. 1, the pocket clip 2| is so situated as to be readily usable. On the contary, when the latch bar is in its other extreme position, as depicted in Fig. 2, the pocket clip is retracted to a position substantially flush with, the barrel wherein it is not usable because of the inaccessibility of its free end.

When release button [8b is depressed against the pressure of spring 29 pin 26 is released from shoulder 28 and the backward pressure of spring I l causes the ball-and-cartridge unit and plunger l2 to be retracted. This causes a retraction of ball point 1 into the barrel and at the same time a restoration of pocket clp 2| to its usable position as shown in Fig. 1 by the camming action afforded by the pins 26, 21 and slots 24, 25.

Obviously, there are many possible modifications of the structure illustrated within the scope and purview of my broad inventive concept and I do not wish to be limited except as indicated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a ball-point writing instrument, a barrel having a clip-receiving recess, an ink cartridge unit including a ball writing point mounted in said barrel and reciprocable lengthwise thereof alternately to propel said writing point from and retract it into said barrel, means including a pushbutton at the rear end of said barrel for propelling said unit, spring means for retracting said unit, laterally movable latch means in said barrel movable by movement of said propelling means into position latching said propelling means in propelled position, said latch means being manually releasable, and a pocket clip connected with said latch means for movement thereby into said clip-receiving recess by movement of said latch means into latching engagement with said propelling means and for movement from said recess and rendered effective for clipping by movement of said latch means i from latching engagement with said propelling means for retraction of said unit.

2. In a writing instrument, an elongate hollow barrel, means including a writing point mounted in said barrel and reciprocable lengthwise thereof to project and retract said writing point out of and back into said barrel, a plunger mounted in said barrel and projecting out of the rear end thereof to form a manually operable pushbutton, said plunger being movable lengthwise of said barrel to propel said writing point, a spring for retracting said plunger and writing point, a movable latch member for releasably holding said plunger in its forward position, said latch member being operatively connected with said plunger and moved to latching position by movement of the plunger to its forward position, a pocket clip carried by said latchmemher for movement laterally in and out of said barrel in response to movement of the latch memher, and a manually depressable release button carried by said latch member, said release button being adapted to project out of the side of said barrel opposite said clip by movement of said latch member to latching position and being manually movable inwardly of said barrel to release said latch and said plunger, said button being retained inwardly of the barrel until said released plunger is actuated to propel said writing point.

3. In a writing instrument, an elongate hollow within said barrel and extending lengthwise thereof, said barrel having two lengthwise-extending slot-like openings on diametrically opposite sides thereof, said latch bar having separate portions in registration with said openings respectively and movable therethrough, said latch bar being movable bodily transversely of said barrel from a fi'rst-extreme-position to a second,

and opposite extreme position, and vice versa,

said latch bar intosaid first; extreme position;

said latch bar and plunger having cooperating surfaces movable into interengagement by movement of said plunger to its forward position and of" said latch bar into its said first extreme position and effective for locking said plunger in its forward position, one of said latch bar portions being projected out of said barrel to constitute a release button by movement of said latch bar to'its said first extreme position, said latch bar being movable, by manual depression of said release button, for moving said c0operat,

ing surfaces out of locking interengagement.

4. In a writing instrument, an elongate hollow:

barrel, a Writing point projectable out of and retractable back into said barrel, a plunger mounted in said barrel and projecting out of the rear end thereof to-form a manually operable pushbutton, said plunger being movable length wise of said barrel to propel said writing point, a spring for retracting said plunger and writing point, a latch bar disposed within said barrel and extending lengthwise thereof, said barrel having two lengthwise-extending slot-like openings on diametrically opposite sides thereof, saidlatch bar-having separate portions in registrationwith said openings respectively and movable therethrough, said latch bar being movable bodily transversely of said barrel from a first 1:

extreme position to a second and opposite extreme position and vice" versa, means including cooperating camelementscarried by'said plunger and said latch bar responsive to a full forward movement, of said plunger to, move said latch bar into said first extreme position, said latch bar being effective in its first extreme position to lock said plunger in its forward position, one of said latch bar portions being projected out of said barrel to constitute a release button by movement-of said latch bar to its said first extreme position, said latch bar being movable to release said plunger by depressing said release button, and a pocket clip comprising a spring arm carried by the other of said latch bar portions at the outside thereof, said pocket clip being movable with said latch bar transversely of said barrel, said pocket clip being retracted into said barrel and thus rendered inoperable by movement of said latch bar to its first extreme position, said pocket clip being positioned exteriorly of said barrel and thus rendered operable by movement of said latch bar to its said second extreme position.

5. In a writing instrument, an elongate hollow barrel, a Writing point projectable out of and retractable back into said barrel, a plunger mounted in said barrel and, projecting out of the rear end thereof to form a manually operable pushbutton, said plunger being movable lengthwise of said barrel to propel said writing point, a spring for retracting said plunger, a latch bar disposed within said barrel and extending lengthwise thereof, said plunger being slotted through diametrically to clear said latch bar and: to enable" lengthwise. reciprocation of said plunger relatively to said latch bar, said barrel having two lengthwise-extending slot-like openings onqdiametrically opposite sides thereof, said latch bar having separate: portions in reg istratiorr with said. openings respectively and: movable therethrough, said latch bar being movable bodily transversely of said barrel from a first extreme position to a second and opposite extreme position-and vice versa, a pin carried;

by said plunger and extending transversely thereof into a cam groove formed in said latch bar, said cam groove being so formed that said latchbar is moved by said pin to said first extreme position when said pushbutton isfully depressed, said cam groove being further formed to 00- operate with said pin to locksaid plunger in its extreme forward position, a resilient member carried by said: plunger and operative to engage said latchbar when said plunger has been moved through a part of its forward stroke, said resilient member being thereafter effective to force said latch bar laterally into said first extreme position and to yieldably hold said latch bar in said first extreme position, one of said-latch'bar portions projecting out of said barrel to constitute a release button when said latch bar is in: said: first extreme position, said latch bar being mov-. able to release said plunger by depressing said release button. i

6. In awriting instrument, an elongate hollow barrel, a writing point carried by said barrel, said writing point being projectable out of and retractable back into said barrel, a pocket clip located at one side of said barrel and adapted to be retracted into said barrel, a latch operative to retain said Writing point in its propelled po-- sition, means for releasing said latch, and nieans interconnecting said pocket clip and writing point and operative to retract said pocket clip into saidbarrelin response to each forward movement of said writing point and further opera-- tive to expel said pocket clip from its retracted position to a position outside said barrel in response to each retraction movement of said writing point.

'7. In a writing instrument, an elongate hollow barrel and having a portion projecting'out of" the rear end of said barrel to form a manually operable pushbutton, said plunger being operative to propel said writing point forwardly into writing position, a spring for retracting said writin point and plunger, a latch member disposed in said barrel and bodily movable laterally thereof, said latch member being operative when moved in one direction to lock said plunger in its forward position, a pocket clip carried by said latch member and movable thereby into and out of said barrel, said pocket clip being disposed entirely within said barrel and said latch member having a portion extending out of the barrel when the latch member is positioned to lock said plunger in its forward position. said latch member being movable in the opposite direction to re lease said plunger, said pocket clip being disposed outside said barrel when said latch member has reached the limit of its movement in said opposite direction, the outwardly extending portion of said latch member forming manually operable means for moving the latch member in said opposite direction to release said plunger.

' 8. A ball-point writing instrument comprising a barrel, a unit slidably mounted in said barrel and including an ink reservoir, a ball writing point atthe forward end of said unit adapted to be projected and retracted through the adjacent forward end of said barrel, and ink feed means connecting said reservoir and said writing point, spring means constantly urging said unit toward retracted position wherein said writing point is concealed in said barrel, a pocket clip associated with said barrel and movable between outer clipping and inward non-clipping positions, manually actuating means cperatively connected with said unit and said clip for propelling the unit and: moving the clip to its inner non-clipping position, means for holding said unit in propelled position and said clip in non-clipping position, and means for releasing said holding means to permit said spring means to move said unit into retracted position, said unit having connection through said actuating means with said clip and being operative to move the clip into its outer clipping position on movement of the unit into retracted position.

9. A ball-point writing instrument comprising a barrel, a unit slidably mounted in said barrel and including an ink reservoir, a ball writing point at the forward end of said unit adapted to be projected and retracted through the adjacent forward end of said barrel, and ink feed means connecting said reservoir and said writing 8 point at the forward end of said unit adapted to be projected and retracted through the adjacent forward end of said barrel, and ink feed means connecting said reservoir and said writing point, sprin means constantly urging said unit toward retracted position wherein said writing point, spring means constantly urging said unit said holding element and movable thereby into an inoperative position at least partially within said barrel by movement of said holding element to its said holding position and into an operable, exposed position projecting from said barrel by movement of said holding element to its said released position.

10. A ball-point writing instrument comprising a barrel, a unit slidably mounted in said barrel and including an ink reservoir, a ball writing point is concealed in said barrel, a pocket clip associated with said barrel and movable alternately to enabling and disabling positions, means "for propelling said unit, releasable means for holding said unit in propelled position, and cam means actuated by said propelling means for moving said clip to disabling position for nonclipping and actuated by said spring means for moving said clip to enabling position for clipping.

11. A ball-point writing instrument comprising a barrel, a unit slidably mounted in said barrel and including an ink reservoir, a ball writing point at the forward end of said unit adapted to be projected and retracted through the adjacent forward end of said barrel, and ink feed means connecting said reservoir and said writing point, spring means constantly urging said unit toward retracted position wherein said writing point is concealed in said barrel, means for propelling said unit, a latch member mounted in said barrel operably connected to said propelling means and movable by movement of the propelling means into a position releasably holding said unit in propelled position, manually operable means for releasing said latch member to permit said spring means to return said unit to retracted position, and a pocket clip operably connected to and movable by said latch member between an inoperative position retracted in said barrel by movement of said unit to its propelled position and an operative position projecting from said barrel by release of said unit and its movement to retracted position.

HERMAN C. FRENTZEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Biro May 21, 1946 

